Quill stop

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of a quill stop are disclosed. The quill stop can move between an open and closed position. The quill stop has a left and a right securing member, a locking element, a right arm, a left arm, and a left arm spring. The right arm can actuate the locking element out of engagement with a locking projection so that the right securing member and the left securing member can move relative to each other and allow a rod to be inserted between them. The locking element prevents unwanted actuation of the quill stop during operation.

FIELD

The subject matter herein generally relates to a quill stop.

BACKGROUND

During the use of certain instruments, such as a press or a drill, it isdesirable to limit the depth or distance that the instrument travels.Thus quill stops are used to easily allow the user to adjust actuationdistance. However, a quill stop is only as good as its ability to stayin place. The issue with currently known quill stops is that when acertain amount of pressure is exerted during the actuation, the quillstop will open and/or slide on the instrument. When a large amount ofdownward pressure is exerted, the force is translated into a lateralforce that causes the quill stop to open. This movement limits theability of the quill stops to function correctly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by wayof example only, with reference to the attached figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the quill stop in use.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of an embodiment of the quill stop in aclosed position.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of an embodiment of the quill stop in theinitial stages of being opened.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of an embodiment of the quill stop in anopen position.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the quill stop in the closed position.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of an embodiment of the quill stop in theclosed position.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-section of an embodiment of the quill stop in theinitial stages of being opened.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-section of an embodiment of the quill stop in anopen position.

FIG. 9 shows side cross-section of an embodiment of the quill stop.

FIG. 10 shows a cross-section of an embodiment of the quill stop in theclosed position.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the quill stop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among thedifferent figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Inaddition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, itwill be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that theembodiments described herein can be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components havenot been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevantfeature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, andthe proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustratedetails and features. The description is not to be considered aslimiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. It should benoted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure arenot necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean atleast one.

Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now bepresented.

The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly orindirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarilylimited to physical connections. The connection can be such that theobjects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term“outside” refers to a region that is beyond the outermost confines of aphysical object. The term “inside” indicates that at least a portion ofa region is partially contained inside a boundary formed by the object.The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to theparticular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies,such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantiallycylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have oneor more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” means“including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicatesopen-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group,series and the like.

The present disclosure is described in relation to a quill stop 1. Quillstops are used on items that actuate like a drill and/or press toquickly limit the range of motion of the actuation.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the quill stop 1 used on anactuating piece of machinery such as a drill or a press. As can be seenform the figure, the machinery comprises a threaded rod with a threadedrod pitch.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the quill stop 1 in a closedposition. The quill stop 1 comprises of a right arm 2, a left arm 3, asecuring apparatus 4 and a locking element 5.

The right arm 2 comprises right arm actuator 21. The right arm actuator21, when the quill stop 1 is in the closed position, abuts the lockingelement 5 at the locking element abutment 51. In some embodiments, theright arm actuator 21 can comprise a rounded surface. In otherembodiments, the right arm actuator 21 can comprise a flat surface. Theonly requirement is that the right arm actuator 21 can cause rotation ofthe locking element 5 when opening the quill stop 1, and causere-engagement with the locking element 5 when closing the quill stop 1.

The left arm 3 defines a left arm spring space 33 that at leastpartially houses the left arm spring 31. The left arm spring 31 abutsthe left arm 3 and the locking element 5 and biases the left arm 3 andthe locking element 5 away from each other. In some embodiments, theleft arm spring 31 can be coupled to the locking element 5 by the springsecuring element 54. In some embodiments, the spring securing element 54can be a dowel pin that will reside in the center of the left arm spring31. In some embodiments, the depth of the left arm spring space 33 willvary. In some embodiments, the left arm spring space 33 will longer thanthe length of the left arm 3 that is located inside the securingapparatus housing 46. In some embodiments, the left arm spring space 33will be lest that the length of the left arm 3 that is located insidethe securing apparatus housing 46. Accordingly, some properties of theleft arm spring 31 will be selected according to the depth of the leftarm spring space 33. Additionally, the strength of the left arm spring31 can be selected according to need and desired resistance.

The locking element 5 comprises the locking element abutment 51 thatabuts the right arm actuator 21 when the quill stop 1 is in the closedposition. The locking element 5 is prevented from horizontal movement bythe locking projection 452, which is received in the locking projectionreceiving space 56 until the locking element 5 pivots about a lockingelement pivot 451. The locking element 5 can be housed inside thesecuring apparatus housing 46. In some embodiments, the locking elementpivot 451 and/or the locking projection 452 is integral with thesecuring apparatus 4. In some embodiments, the locking element pivot 451and/or the locking projection 452 are projections (e.g., dowel, pin,screw) that are coupled the securing apparatus 4. In some embodiments,the locking element 5 defines a top surface 55 and a bottom surface 53.The locking element 5 helps to prevent unwanted opening of the quillstop 1. The quill stop 1 can only open once the locking projection 452is free of the locking projection 452.

The securing apparatus 4 comprises of left securing member 41, rightsecuring member 42, securing spring 43, and an engagement portion 49.The left securing member 41 and the right securing member 42 define asecuring apparatus housing 46. The securing spring 43 is coupled to boththe left securing member 41, by the left securing member spring retainer411 and the right securing member 42, by the right securing memberspring retainer 421. In some embodiments, the left securing memberspring retainer 411 and/or the right securing member spring retainer 421comprise a dowel pin. In some embodiments, the left securing memberspring retainer 411 and/or the right securing member spring retainer 421are integral with the securing apparatus housing 46. The securingapparatus housing 46 houses the locking element pivot 451, the lockingprojection 452, the left stop 47, and the right arm abutment 48. In someembodiments, the left stop 47 is coupled to the left securing member 41by the left stop connector 453, and in other embodiments, the left stop47 is integral with the left securing member 41. The base of the leftsecuring member 41 and the right securing member 42 are attached by abase element 6. The base element 6 will allow for rotational movement ofthe left securing member 41, the right securing member 42, or both theleft securing member 41 and the right securing member 42. In someembodiments, the base element 6 is a bracket. In some embodiments, thebase element 6 is coupled to the left stop connector 453, the right armabutment connector 454 or both the left stop connector 453 and the rightarm abutment connector 454. In some embodiments, the base element 6 isintegral with the left securing member 41 or the right securing 4 member42. In some embodiments, the right arm abutment 48 is coupled to theright securing member 42 by the right arm abutment connector 454, and inother embodiments, the right arm abutment 48 is integral with the rightsecuring member 42. In some embodiments, the left stop 47 and the rightarm abutment 48 have corresponding surfaces that will abut each otherduring actuation of the quill stop 1. In some embodiments, the left stopconnector 453 and/or the right arm abutment connector 454 are integralwith the securing apparatus 4. In some embodiments, the left stop 47 andthe right arm abutment 48 have corresponding curvatures that face eachand abut each other, during the opening of the quill stop 1.

The engagement portion 49 defines an engagement space 491. When a shaftof a device is inserted via the gap 492 into the engagement space 491and the arms are released, the engagement portion 49 will be secured tothe shaft. In some embodiments, the engagement portion 49 will have athread that corresponds to a thread of a pre-selected shaft design. Insome embodiments,

The right arm 2 is coupled to the right securing member 42 in a pivotalmanner by the right arm securing member 455. In some embodiments, theright arm securing member 455 is a pin coupled to the securing apparatus4. In some embodiments, the right arm securing member 455 is integralwith the securing apparatus 4. The left arm 3 is coupled to the leftsecuring member 41 by the left arm securing member 456. In someembodiments, the left arm 3 is coupled to the left securing member 41 ina pivotal manner by the left arm securing member 456. In someembodiments, the left arm 3 is unable to move in relation to the leftsecuring member 41.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the quill stop 1 during the initialstages of being actuated to an open position. When a compression forceis applied to the right arm 2 and the left arm 3, the right arm 2rotates about the right arm securing member 455 until the right arm 2abuts the right arm abutment 48. While the right arm 2 is rotated, theright arm actuator 21 applies force to the locking element abutment 51.This movement will cause the locking element 5 to rotate about thelocking element pivot 451 and free the locking element 5 from thelocking projection 452. The rotation will cause the locking element 5 tocompress the left arm spring 31. The rotation will cease when the bottomsurface 53 prevents further movement. In some embodiments, the bottomsurface 53 will abut the left arm 3 abutment.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the quill stop 1 in the openposition. Upon further application of force, the right securing member42 will rotate in relation to the left securing member 41. In someembodiments, the right arm's 2 abutment against the right arm abutment48, abutment against an interior projection (not shown), abutmentagainst the interior wall of the securing apparatus housing 46, or acombination thereof, causes the rotation of the right securing member 42in relation to the left securing member 41. Additionally, the lockingelement abutment 51 will abut, and slide along as needed, the lockingprojection 452. In some embodiments, the right arm actuator 21 will befree of contract with the locking element abutment 51 when in the quillstop 1 is in the open position. In some embodiments (not shown), thelocking element abutment 51 will remain in contact with the right armactuator 21 in all positions. Upon rotation of the right securing member42, in relation to the left securing member 41, the securing spring 43will be actuated against its biasing force, and a gap 492 between theleft securing member 41 and the right securing member 42 will beestablished. The gap 492 will allow an element (e.g., a shaft) to enterbetween the right securing member 42 and the left securing member 41.

Upon releasing force from the right arm 2 and/or the left arm 3, thesecuring spring 43 will recoil and the left arm spring 31 will expand toforce the right securing member 42 to abut the left securing member 41.The locking element abutment 51 will engage the right arm actuator 21and force its rotation back to its initial state.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment having straight arms as seen from theexterior.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment having straight arms and wherein theleft arm securing member 456 extends all the way through the left arm 3.The embodiment shown also provides an example of a shorter left armspring 31. The left arm securing member 456 can extend all the waythrough because the left arm spring 31 is shorter as compared to theembodiment shown in FIG. 2. In some embodiments (not shown), the leftarm securing member 456 will engage and secure the left arm spring 31 inthe left arm spring space 33.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the quill stop 1 during the initialstages of being actuated. When a compression force is applied to theright arm 2 and the left arm 3, the right arm 2 rotates about the rightarm securing member 455 until the right arm 2 abuts the right armabutment 48. While the right arm 2 is rotated, the right arm actuator 21slides along the locking element abutment 51. This movement will forcethe locking element 5 to rotate about the locking element pivot 451 andfree the locking element 5 from the locking projection 452. The rotationwill cause the locking element 5 to compress the left arm spring 31. Insome embodiments, the rotation will cease when the bottom surface 53prevents further movement by abutting the left arm 3 abutment.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the quill stop 1 in the openposition. Upon further application of force, the right securing member42 will rotate in relation to the left securing member 41. In someembodiments, the right arm's 2 abutment against the right arm abutment48, abutment against an interior projection (not shown), abutmentagainst the interior wall of the securing apparatus housing 46, or acombination thereof, causes the rotation of the right securing member 42in relation to the left securing member 41. Additionally, the lockingelement abutment 51 will abut, and slide along as needed, the lockingprojection 452. In some embodiments, the right arm actuator 21 will befree of contract with the locking element abutment 51. Upon rotation ofthe right securing member 42 in relation to the left securing member 41,the securing spring 43 will be actuated against its biasing force, and agap 492 will be established to allow an element to enter between theright securing member 42 and the left securing member 41.

Upon releasing force from the right arm 2 and/or the left arm 3, thesecuring spring 43 will recoil, and the left arm spring 31 expand toforce the right securing member 42 to abut the left securing member 41.The locking element abutment 51 will engage the right arm actuator 21and force its rotation back to its initial state.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the quill stop 1 wherein the leftarm 3 is coupled to the left securing member 41 by two left arm securingmembers 456 and 456′. In some embodiments, the left arm securing member456 comprises two threaded elements that are secured from outside thesecuring apparatus housing 46. In some embodiments, the threadedelements are screws.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of the quill stop 1 that is similar tothe embodiment shown in FIG. 2, but the right arm 2 and the left arm 3are substantially linear as opposed to arched.

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of the quill stop 1 that is similar tothe embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but the machinery and the threaded rodare not shown.

In some embodiments, the right arm 2 and the left arm 3 are angled awayfrom each other. In some embodiments, both the right arm 2 and the leftarm 3 are more linear. In some embodiments (not shown) one of the rightarm 2 or the left arm 3 is angled. Some embodiments have them angledtoward each other, and other embodiments are angled away from eachother. Linear arms provide for less actuation and limit the width of thegap 492 space. The more space between the arms enables more actuation ofthe securing members 41 and 42. The distance that the arms can traveltowards each other effects the size of the gap 492. In some embodiments,the left arm 3 comprises a left arm angled portion 32 and/or a left armindentation 39. In some embodiments, the right arm 2 comprises a rightarm angled portion 22 and/or a right arm indentation 29. Theindentations, when present, can make the quill stop 1 more user-friendlyby making it easier to grip by a user.

In some embodiments, the engagement portion 49 is threaded to be securedto a ½″-20 rod.

The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even thoughnumerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology havebeen set forth in the foregoing description, together with details ofthe structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure isillustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including inmatters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within theprinciples of the present disclosure up to, and including, the fullextent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in theclaims.

It should also be noted that elements of embodiments may be described inreference to the description of a particular embodiment; however, it isdisclosed that elements of disclosed embodiments can be switched withcorresponding elements of embodiments with the same name and/or numberof other disclosed embodiments. It is also noted that directional terms(e.g., left, right, top, bottom) are used in reference to certain parts.The terms are only used as a means to describe and explain theembodiments. It is clear that when viewed from a different angle, theelement described as being left for example, may now, in fact, be on theright.

Depending on the embodiment, certain steps of methods described may beremoved, others may be added, and the sequence of steps may be altered.It is also to be understood that the description and the claims drawn toa method may include some indication in reference to certain steps.However, the indication used is only to be viewed for identificationpurposes and not as a suggestion as to an order for the steps.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a quill stop comprising:a left securing member comprising a locking element pivot; a rightsecuring member comprises a locking projection, wherein the lockingprojection is substantially circular, and the left securing member andthe right securing member comprise an engagement portion; and the leftsecuring member and the right securing member define a gap, theengagement portion defines and engagement space, and the gap and theengagement space are in communication; a locking element that defines alocking projection receiving space and comprises a locking elementabutment; wherein the locking element is configured to rotate about thelocking element pivot, the locking projection receiving space is roundedand configured to at least partially correspond to the lockingprotrusion, and the locking element abutment is configured to abut thelocking projection; a right arm; a left arm defining a left arm springspace; a left arm spring located at least partially inside the left armspring space, wherein the left arm spring biases the locking elementaway from the left arm and the locking element into abutment of thelocking projection; a securing spring coupled to the left securingmember and the right securing member, wherein the securing spring biasesthe left securing member and the right securing member together; a rightarm abutment; a left stop; wherein when the right arm abuts the rightarm abutment, the right arm abutment abuts the left stop.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the right securing member comprises a rightarm securing member, and the right arm is configured to rotate about theright arm securing member.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the leftarm spring is coupled to the locking element.
 4. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the engagement portion is threaded.
 5. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the securing spring is located at least partially inside theleft securing member and the right securing member.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the left arm comprises a left arm angled portion, theright arm comprises a right arm angled portion, or a combinationthereof.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the left stop and theright arm abutment comprise corresponding rounded portions.